Man Charged With Homicide In Indiana Co. Child’s Death

INDIANA (KDKA) -The stepfather of a 20-month-old boy is now charged with homicide in relation to his death.

The child’s stepfather, 27-year-old Juan Campbell is already in jail, but officials upgraded his charges to include murder.

Malachi Patterson died at 12:28 p.m. Sunday at Children’s Hospital.

Emergency crews were called to his home in Blairsville early Friday morning when he was found unresponsive.

He had bruises to his head, face and torso and a doctor said the injuries were not the result of an accident.

The District Attorney said Monday that the boy’s 6-year-old stepbrother was also home when the incident happened.

Campbell allegedly told police after the incident that the boy rolled off the bed and hit the nightstand. The District Attorney says Campbell put his hand over Peterson’s mouth when he cried and kept it there as he was “basically smothered.”

Campbell is already facing aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment charges.